CNN International reporter leaves Turkey with Erdoğan fanfare

CNN International correspondent Ivan Watson said goodbye to Istanbul at a farewell party with his colleagues, who presented him some tongue-in-cheek political gifts that refer to his recent clash with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“That CNN International lackey is trying to do something there. He made an eight-hour broadcast during last year’s Gezi events. Why? To stir up trouble in my country. This year, they have been caught red-handed,” Erdoğan had said on June 3, labelling Watson an "agent."

CNN International had stood behind Watson, who was briefly detained near Taksim Square while on air on May 31.

Watson met his colleagues at a farewell party on June 27, saying goodbye to Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, in which he served as a reporter for 12 years.

Dirk Vermeiren, a Dutch sports journalist, presented a scarf used by pro-Erdoğan voters during the election rallies as a gift to Watson. Another friend of Watson completed the outfit with a jersey of Kasımpaşaspor, the football team of Erdoğan's hometown, reading the word "lackey" on its back.

During a June 3 briefing, U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf dismissed Erdoğan’s accusations targeting Watson as "ridiculous."

Earlier in May, CNN had announced that Watson will be relocating to Hong Kong.